Thermal Safety Helmet

ABSTRACT

A pliable padded thermal safety helmet that conforms to a patient&#39;s head. The helmet has an exterior layer that protects a patient from impact injuries, has an interior surface that secures a removable thermal packs that provide hot or cold therapy depending on the treatment intended for an injury, infection, etc. The thermal packs are removably attached to the inside surface of the thermal safety helmet at any desired location inside the thermal safety helmet to provide heat or cold to specific areas of a patient&#39;s head.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to, and claims the benefit of, theco-pending provisional patent application entitled “Thermal SafetyHelmet For Treating And Prevention Of Head Injuries”, filed Sep. 21,2016, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 62/397,806 and naming Daniel M. Shapiro, thenamed inventor herein, as sole inventor, and the co-pending provisionalpatent application entitled “EVA Safety Helmet”, filed Jun. 25, 2017,bearing U.S. Ser. No. 62/524,570 and naming Daniel M. Shapiro, the namedinventor herein, as sole inventor, the contents of both applications arespecifically incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This invention relates in general to safety devices, and moreparticularly it relates to protective headgear that is worn to protectan individual's head while a head injury is healing, and to providethermal control of the helmet to assist healing and recovery whileprotecting the patient's head from additional injury. Alternativeembodiments of this invention use alternative materials to fabricate theexterior layer of the thermal safety helmet, including ethylene-vinylacetate (“EVA”), Poron™, etc.

Background of the Invention

Padded helmets are commercially available to protect a wearer's head ina variety of situations. They are used by athletics in a variety ofsports. These devices, such as football helmets, typically provideimpact protection, but do nothing for temperature control. Likewise,padded helmets are available for treatment of a variety of medicalconditions, most notably to protect patients with head injuries frominadvertently sustaining subsequent injuries. These medically orientedhelmets also fail to provide thermal control mechanisms, especiallymethods of both cooling and/or warming depending on the needs of theindividual patient.

Casual headwear, such as baseball caps, are known to have been used Inconjunction with cooling devices for the purpose of keeping anindividual cool and participating in outdoor activities. These devicestypically use pre-cooled pouches containing ice, cold water, or gel thatare positioned at the back of the wearer's head or around but have been.This type of headwear typically does not provide the wearer anyprotection, except from sunlight.

Some casual headwear even go so far as to provide water filled pouchesthat allow water to slowly be released on to a wearer's head such thatheat from the wearer's body evaporates the water to create a coolingeffect. Of these devices, some use a headband and the cap, and othersuse larger compartments that emit water over the entire wearer's head.These devices can provide relief from heat, but can also beuncomfortable due to the constant release of moisture onto a wearer'shead.

Impact resistant headwear, such as sports helmets (e.g., footballhelmets), and protected medical headwear both provide impact protection.However, neither combine impact protection with thermal control elementsthat allow an individual's came to be either cooled or warmed at theindividual's discretion.

While the prior art has provided basic impact protection, it has failedto provide a protective helmet that also provides therapeuticproperties, namely, the application of thermal treatments to selectedareas of an individual's head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a pliable padded helmet that conforms to apatient's head. The helmet is fabricated with a liner that is fabricatedfrom material capable of removably securing thermal packs that can behot or cold depending on the treatment intended for an injury,infection, etc. The thermal packs have an outer surface fabricated fromsoft pliant material that comes in contact with the patient's head. Thehelmet uses thermal packs can provide heat or cold to a patient's head.The thermal packs have a soft felt or felt-like material on the sidethat contacts the patient's head for comfort, and the side of thethermal pack that contacts the inside of the helmet has a hook and loopsurface that allows the thermal pack to be attached to any desiredlocation on the inside of the helmet

An alternative embodiment of this invention provides a pliable EVAhelmet that conforms to a patient's head. The helmet is fabricated as asingle unit via a molding process. The EVA material provides a stablelightweight structure that allows it to be comfortably worn for extendedperiods of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal safetyhelmet with optional ventilation apertures on the surface of the thermalsafety helmet. A portion of the interior surface along with a portion ofa thermal pack is also shown.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal safetyhelmet showing ventilation apertures on the upper surface of the helmet.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet showing an ear aperture, a strap attachment aperture, andoptional ventilation apertures on the surface of the helmet.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet showing an ear aperture, a strap with optional chin pad,and optional ventilation apertures on the surface of the helmet.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal safetyhelmet showing a strap attached to it, and optional ventilationapertures on the surface of the helmet.

FIG. 6 is an inside plan view of a preferred embodiment of the helmetshowing how the thermal safety helmet can be stamped from a single sheetof material.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet showing the interior surface of the thermal safety helmetcovered with interior lining material.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet showing how the thermal safety helmet can be stamped froma single sheet of material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Prior to a discussion of the figures, an overview of the invention willbe presented. The invention is an apparatus and method for applyingthermal treatments to head injuries or conditions while simultaneouslyproviding impact protection for patients. The invention protects andtreats injuries that have already occurred, and also protects the headfrom subsequent injuries. In some cases, as when children or adults havechronic or pre-existing conditions, the helmet may be worn prior to anyactual injuries. The invention uses a pliable padded helmet thatconforms to a patient's head such that the patient is protected fromimpacts. This is especially important for children who may not be ascareful about protecting head injuries. The helmet is fabricated withthermal packs that can be hot or cold depending on the treatmentintended for an injury, an infection, etc. The thermal packs can bepositioned anywhere on the inside of the helmet. The preferredembodiment envisions removable internal thermal packs that allow them tobe replaced as needed. The thermal packs can provide heat or colddepending on the condition being treated.

The helmet can be fabricated from a variety of materials. The onlyrequirement is that the materials chosen be suitable for the helmet'sintended purpose. While a wide variety of materials can be used tofabricate the thermal safety helmet, a preferred material used in thepreferred embodiment of the invention is Poron™ Plus foam cushioning.These materials provide several advantages. Poron can be stamped as asingle piece during manufacture, and bonded together with an adhesive.Likewise, it can also be molded. Further, Poron also offers high reboundproperties that are important in protecting patients from additionalinjuries when treating a previous injury or condition. It provides anopen cell, reasonable structure that allows ventilation. In addition, ithas antifungal properties that are important when treating head injuriesthat may be susceptible to infection. In the preferred embodiment, thePoron is envisioned as having an approximate thickness of 15 mm.

An alternative embodiment of the thermal safety helmet uses an EVAexterior layer fabricated as a single unit, preferably using a moldingprocess.

For ease of discussion, unless otherwise noted herein, the materialsPoron and EVA shall be deemed to be interchangeable.

EVA has been discovered to exhibit highly desirable properties for usein helmets. Ethylene vinyl acetate is the copolymer of ethylene andvinyl acetate. The ethylene typically comprises sixty to ninety percentof the EVA weight, while the vinyl acetate component usually comprisesfrom ten to forty percent of the weight. EVA has desirablecharacteristics in that it is similar to elastomeric materials insoftness and flexibility, but has an advantage in that it can beprocessed like numerous types of thermoplastics. EVA has a combinationof qualities such as good clarity and gloss, low temperature toughness,adhesive properties, crack resistance, waterproof properties, andresistance to UV radiation.

EVA is a component in a variety of products, including hot meltadhesives, hot glue sticks, plastic wraps, children's foam stickers, andmedical applications (i.e., drug delivery devices). EVA is an expandedrubber (i.e., foam rubber). EVA is buoyant, and is useful in productsthat are intended to float. It can be used as an encapsulation materialfor silicon cells in the manufacture of photovoltaic modules. EVA, isalso used in the formulation of paints.

The preferred embodiment envisions the use of a nylon chinstrap that ispreferred due to its strength and durability properties. Likewise, thestraps are commercially available and can be manufactured with integralhook and loop attachment surfaces. In addition, an optional cushionedsleeve can be provided such that, when the strap is secured to thepatient, the chinstrap will be covered by the cushioned sleeve for thepatient's comfort.

The shape of the helmet can also vary depending on the size of thepatient as well as the type of affliction the helmet is intended totreat. Further, the optional chinstrap can be used to secure the helmetto the patient.

Having discussed the invention in general, we turn now to a detaileddiscussion of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front external view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 with optional ventilation apertures 2 on the surface ofthe thermal safety helmet 1. Also shown is a portion of the optionalchinstrap 3 extending from the thermal safety helmet 1. In operation,the chinstrap 3 is inserted through chinstrap aperture 5 (shown in FIG.3) and then preferably secured by integral hook and loop material 8(shown in FIG. 5) on chinstrap 3. Any suitable method of securing thechinstrap 3 may be used, but hook and loop material 8 is preferred sinceit is inexpensive and easy to use. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that the actual shape of the helmet 1 can vary based on theintended use and the patient's needs. Of course, the chinstrap 3 can beattached to either side of the thermal safety helmet 1.

Also shown in this figure this portion of interior lining 8 whichextends lower than the front of the thermal safety helmet 1. In thepreferred embodiment, the interior lining 8 is fabricated from felt or asimilar material that is capable of securing a thermal patch 9 having afirst side that is surfaced with hook and loop or a suitable alternativematerial. The material on the first side has hook and loop material toenable it to secure itself to the interior lining 8. The second side ofthe thermal patch 9 preferably has a surface that is fabricated from thesame material that is used for interior lining 8.

FIG. 2 is a top external view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 showing the optional ventilation apertures 2 on theupper surface of the thermal safety helmet 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 showing ear apertures 4, a strap attachment aperture 5,and the optional ventilation apertures 2 on the surface of the safetyhelmet 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 showing an ear aperture 4, a chinstrap 3 with optionalchin pad sleeve 6, and ventilation apertures 2 on the surface of thethermal safety helmet 1. Optional chinstrap sleeve 6 provides a soft andcomfortable cushion for the patient's chin. Once the chinstrap 3 isinserted into strap aperture 5 and secured via hook and loop material 8,the chinstrap sleeve 6 is slidably moved over the chinstrap 3 such thatthe hook and loop material 8 is covered up.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal safetyhelmet 1 showing a chinstrap 3 attached to it, and optional ventilationapertures 2 on the surface of the thermal safety helmet 1. Also shown inthis figure is the hook and loop material 8 on chinstrap 3.

FIG. 6 is an inside plan view that illustrates how the thermal safetyhelmet 1 can be stamped from a single sheet of material. In a preferredembodiment, the interior lining 8 as designed to cover the entireinterior of the thermal safety helmet 1. This allows a thermal pack 9 tobe positioned anywhere on the interior of the thermal safety helmet 1.As a result, the medical professional or caretaker can preciselyposition a thermal pack 9 at the precise location where the thermal pack9 needs to be on the patient's head as the patient's needs dictate. Alsoillustrated in this figure are the chinstrap aperture 5, the earapertures 6, and the ventilation apertures 2. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that the interior lining 8 can be attached to the sheetsused to fabricate thermal safety helmet 1 prior to stamping, or securedto the thermal safety helmet 1, has won the case when using a moldingprocess.

The thermal components of the thermal packs 9 can be fabricated from anysuitable material. They can be commercially available “blue ice” packs,they can be chemical packs, etc. Further, the thermal packs can provideheat or cold thermal effects, as needed. In the preferred embodiment,the thermal pack is fabricated with a non-toxic gel pack.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 showing the interior surface of the thermal safetyhelmet 1 covered with interior lining 8 material. Covering the entireinner surface of the thermal safety helmet 1 is preferred because itgives the health care provider the most flexibility in regard toplacement of the thermal packs 9.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of a preferred embodiment of the thermalsafety helmet 1 illustrating how the thermal packs 9 is by the thermalsafety helmet 1 can be positioned at any desired location inside of thethermal safety helmet 1. In addition, this figure also illustrates thefact that the thermal packs 9 can be fabricated in any desired shape orsize because they don't have to be placed in a specific location.

While specific embodiments have been discussed to illustrate theinvention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvariations in the embodiments can be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example, the materials used to fabricatethe helmet can vary, the number and location of the thermal packs canvary, the method of securing the helmet to the patient's head can vary,etc. Therefore, the invention shall be limited solely to the scope ofthe claims.

I Claim:
 1. A thermal safety helmet for treating head conditions,comprising: an exterior layer of impact resistant material that providesprotection from the external impacts; an interior lining, the interiorlining fabricated from material suitable for attachment to a thermalpack; at least one thermal pack, each thermal pack having a first sidesuitable for attachment to the interior lining, and a second sidefabricated with material similar to the interior lining; whereby, thethermal safety helmet provides impact protection to a patient andprovides thermal packs for the application of heat or cold to specificareas of a patient's head.
 2. A thermal safety helmet, as in claim 1,wherein: the interior lining is attached to the exterior layer by hookand loop material.
 3. A thermal safety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein:the exterior layer is fabricated from foam material.
 4. A thermal safetyhelmet, as in claim 3, wherein: the foam material is Poron.
 5. A thermalsafety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein: the exterior layer is fabricatedfrom EVA material.
 6. A thermal safety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein:the exterior layer is fabricated from pliant material.
 7. A thermalsafety helmet, as in claim 1, wherein: a exterior layer is fabricatedsubstantially from EVA.